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Ministers are piloting a scheme to provide therapy to benefit claimants with mental health problems to encourage them to return to work.

The trials will provide therapy to those claiming employment and support allowance (ESA) on the basis of depression, anxiety or other mental illnesses.

A source at the Department for Work and Pensions denied claims that the Conservatives were planning to force claimants to accept help or risk losing their benefits. However, there is alarm that 46 per cent of those receiving ESA have mental health problems.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that senior Tories were considering including plans for